People usually do answer what Congressional District they live in when asked “where are you from?” People define where they live by municipality/mailing address/region, seems like a weak argument.

*don’t answer

Trivedi has based his ENTIRE campaign on being a practicing doctor from the 6th District. He is not practicing medicine and he hasn’t lived in the District from an early age. Why should the voters BELIEVE anything he says from now on.

“a Reading hospital that has always resided within the district”

The hospital never moved to Boston, California or DC…nor did it claim to be a casino when in fact it was not

Trivedi flat out lied when he claimed he worked at Reading hospital. I may “try to schedule hours” as an NFL quarterback, but unless I play even a single minute of a single game, I am in fact NOT.

Today’s press release from the Gerlach campaign is the first “schooling” Trivedi received in the 6th District seeing as he got his degrees in Boston and LA.

Mr. Hirschhorn was misleading when he derides Jim Gerlach for not being from this district originally. All three of my children went to school in the Downingtown School District where Jim’s kids went. Jim coached my boys in the local youth football league. He’s been a resident of this district for over twenty years! Jim’s also never made false claims about where he’s lived or what he’s done for a living.

So does this mean that every boy or girl Rep. Gerlach helps get into a military academy that they are never allowed to return home after their service is up and run for office? I’ll bet the Gerlach campaign wishes he hadn’t gone after Trivedi for this.

Not really the point, Trevor. Trivedi’s lied about his resume – that’s the point.

Dumb question: where can one go to medical school or receive a masters in public policy in the 6th District?

Fleetwood was in the district when Manan went to school there.

I don’t think anyone is “blaming” him for seeking higher education and I, along with the rest of the readers of pa2010 I am sure, greatly appreciate his military service.

That said, you can’t leave the district for that long a period of time and come back and claiming you’ve been around for years and think you can run for Congress…

Not to mention he blatantly lied about his status with Reading hospital, how does that speak to his credibility??

And think he can run for Congress in a district he’s no longer in touch with or has any connection with? That’s why he has to exaggerate. That’s why Trivedi thought he had to lie about his affiliation with Reading Hospital.

Gerlach obviously feeling the heat-going negative early. Guess the liberal tag wasn’t working.

Wow. This is pretty low of Gerlach. And Gerlach has only been around here as long as needed to be to run for office. Trivedi know’s this district better than Gelach. If we’re going to play semantics about him being from Fleetwood then we’ve lost touch of what politics is actually about: helping people for the better through policy. Not bickering over this. BTW, Jim Gerlach’s Congressional mailers only come in years he’s running for congress and this year’s look JUST like a campaign mailer. The guy basically hides for a year and a half then shows up all concerned about the people of this district. To all the republicans who are scared that Trivedi isn’t white you ARE PATHETIC. Take off the KKK robes and try to have an adult conversation for once. Gerlach is one of you. Grand Dragon Jim Gerlach is shaking in his boots that not only might he lose his seat, but it might be to someone who isn’t white and useless. Trivedi is a doctor but Grand Dragon Jim Gerlach isn’t a real congressman. He’s a useless pawn of the tan man John Boner.

Apparently Jim Gerlach wasn’t paying attention (which isn’t unusual) during the Specter-Sestak race.

Specter was a well-known incumbent, Sestak not very well known. So what was Specter’s first move? He went negative, airing attack ads about Sestak’s service record, his treatment of staff, and basically anything else they could throw against him. But all that did was (a)make people aware of Sestak’s outstanding Naval resume and (b)make voters wonder what Specter was so scared of. And as a result, Sestak made up a 20-point+ deficit in less than a month and won going away.

Now, here’s Gerlach in what should be a cakewalk for an incumbent, throwing mud and trying to smear the reputation of his not-very-well-known opponent. Don’t be surprised when 6th District voters wake up to the fact the Manan Trivedi is a pretty impressive MD and a tough enough candidate to scare Gerlach into going negative before Labor Day.

Jim: those that don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. And this is one rerun I’ll be looking forward to.

Oh, and one more thing: these tactics Gerlach is using? Straight from the Karl Rove playbook.

Rovian Tactic #1: Take your opponents greatest strength and use it against him.

For example, when Kerry ran against Bush, Kerry’s greatest resume item was his heroism in Vietnam. So what did Bush/Rove do? Got a surrogate group to stir up false claims that cast doubt on all of Kerry’s service record.

In this case, what is Trivedi’s greatest strength? His medical & public health background (combined with his military service). So what does Gerlach go after first? Of course, Trivedi’s hospital affiliation.

It’s almost like Karl Rove is calling the play.

Hell, maybe he is…

But Bruce, riddle me this, has he been affiliated with the hospital as he’s been saying? He’s lied about that pure and simple. And as for this newly minted racist name-calling, well…I haven’t words. I just hope voters are paying attention.

Devan: as far as you know what did he say his affiliations were. From what I have heard him say and read he has said, he has said simply he is a doctor and have done some work at the hospital both true. When recently do you have factual evidence that he said anything different recently or something that was untrue. Gerlach’s little dirt diggers don’t have an evidence that show Trivedi saying anything…..he’s a doctor, just as he claims. Enough said.

Well according the article above, absolutely yes:

“But he is still listed as a staffer on the hospital’s Web site, after he put in for a leave of absence about a month ago.”

So he’s been affiliated and the hospital’s own website says he’s still affiliated, regardless of whether he’s physically put in hours in recent months.

Or do you have some sort of special Devan Medouse rules for what “affiliated” means.

(By the way, getting me to even argue this issue with you is very good Rovian politics. Karl would be proud of you.)

Interesting, I wonder how many meetings with constituents, hearings and committee meetings Congressman Gerlach has missed doing call time at the NRCC or attending fundraisers or sitting in on strategists meetings to talk about how awful it is Dr. Manan Trivedi went to Iraq to defend our country in a war Mr. Gerlach voted to send our country into. That’s amazing to me. In that last 2 years Gerlach has been to Berks County very few times. ALL of a sudden we get a really strong candidate from Berks and it’s like he lives here. Rep. Gerlach, please act like you care about us and not just keeping your job for yourself.

As a GOP-Committeeman and past-$$$-supporter of Gerlach (and more-recent-supporter of Schroder), a few comments are in-order.

I am a physician and can “relate” when a physician seeks a leave-of-absence, fully-recognized by Medical Staff Bylaws that are consistent with the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Health-Care Organizations ["JCAHO"], usually for no more than one year.

Therefore, what transpired is NOT a violation of the “culture” of current behavior-pattern of healthcare providers. Indeed, although one could wonder if his current stint in D.C. is a political appointment presaging the desire to remain a resident below the Mason-Dixon Line, it is understandable that he would wish to supplement his professional resume by participating in a national “public health” role.

*

I am a lifelong resident of the Delaware Valley and can relate to minor residence-changes (in my case, from Cheltenham to Abington…contiguous). Therefore, the nit-picking associated with the potential for gerrymandering is problematic, particularly recognizing that people will routinely relocate during their training periods (in my case, including Detroit/NYC).

*

THEREFORE, it would be advisable were Jim to abandon this ad-hominem WEAK attack on Manon’s cred; the ISSUES should drive the process!

As someone who has supported Gerlach in the past, this kind of BS is just sad and the reason so many people across this country want to throw out the entire congress.

What a joke! Jim Gerlach moved to the area as an adult after unsuccessfully running for office where he grew up. If that isn’t the definition of “carpetbagger,” I don’t know what is.

this sounds like a fear smear campaign from Gerlach – trying to counter those rumors that Gerlach will Lose big in Berks County this time.

“served in Iraq as a doctor” – sounds like a Doctor to me – a very courageous Doctor.

where was Gerlach during those years that Trivedi was serving as a Doctor in Iraq — he was partying with Bush – and voting for more War it seems during those years.

Gerlach should be ashamed.

so basically, carpetbagger trivedi admits to lying before he’s even elected. wow, what a great guy.

The grim reality for Gerlach is that Trevedi served in the armed forces during the Iraq war. That’s powerful credential for Grelach to overcome with the district’s veterans.

As vets know, character counts.

Why do Republicans always smear military veterans? They did it with Kerry, tried (and failed), to do it to Sestak. Now Trivedi.

Meanwhile, Gerlach isn’t even from around here. I never ceases to surprise me how shameless the R’s are.

First off, thank you Dr. Sklaroff for stating the obvious, issues should come first and foremost. Cong. Gerlach has been in office for nearly 8 years. He should be running on his record.

Moreover, if he wants to run on who cares more about the district, a guy who volunteered to be away from his home for years at time to serve his country vs. a guy who ran out on his district to run for governor, until it became clear that his run was doomed, I’m all for it.

Having met, listened to and talked with Dr. Trivedi (and I’ve met, listened to and talked with Gerlach in the past as well and know he’s no dummy) is a quality candidate more than up to the task of standing toe-to-toe with Gerlach. If Gerlach is too scared to run an up front, vote for the best candidate campaign, well, we’ll just see how it turns out.

Jim Gerlach doesn’t care about dark people. Or veterans.

Here’s the point: in hundreds of speeches, campaign lit pieces, press kits, etc. Trivedi claimed to be working as a doctor at Reading hospital WHICH WAS NOT TRUE! Nobody’s saying that he’s not a doctor; he just hasn’t been a doctor at Reading Hospital for the last nine months, which is contrary to the impression he was working hard to cultivate. HE LIED; he’s A LIAR! He CAN”T BE TRUSTED to tell the truth about even the most basic things. That’s the point.

Devan, no, the point is that Jim Gerlach is a desperate individual who is running away from the real issues.

Read Dr. Sklaroff’s post. I can’t say it any better, but I will add that the demands placed on doctors, military officers and those serving thri country in official positions often call for living and working away from home and family. Trivedi is all three.

Home is where the heart is. Do you think he considers Boston his home? Or DC? or Iraq?

If you’re basing your voting decisions on technicalities related to gerrymanders district borders, well, you don’t have much concern for the real issues at stake in this country.

Just what is Gerlach’s record, its not clear what he stands for?

Punky:

Trivedi moved to the district in August 2009 when he decided he wanted to run for Congress. He worked at the Reading Hospital as, essentially, a per-diem worker until only November. He continued to tell supporters through a variety of media that “he was a doctor at Reading Hospital” even though he hadn’t reported for work in NINE months. That’s a lie. Trivedi can’t be trusted to tell the truth about even the most basic matters.

@Punky:

Devan hit it right on. Forget the “not living in the district” part of the story since that seems to be what people have a problem with, and I’m inclined to agree.

But…AFTER returning from his much appreciated military service, Trivedi moved back to the district as it is currently drawn. He worked at the Reading Hospital as a general staff doctor until November 2009. The primary election in PA was not until May 2010. During that time, and for some time after, he told crowds and media that he still worked at Reading Hospital. It’s simply not true!

After all these years as a Congressman, Gerlach is deciding to run on the residency issue?

Maybe it just proves he has a lack luster record during his years in Congress. Pretty lame.

Gerlach has done some good things like supporting the abolishment of puppy mills, my children appreciate that and so do I.

Gerlach’s campaign managers, are you reading this? Start taking pictures of Jim with puppies and start a new platform.

Augusta:

Wow. Beating my head against the wall. It’s not the residency issue. It’s the CREDIBILITY ISSUE! You can’t get a job at Denny’s if you LIE on your resume and Manan Trivedi has been LYING for WEEKS about HIS CREDENTIALS! He said he worked somewhere he was no longer working. He LIED to Democrats when he was running against Doug Pike, and now he’s lying to us all. He thought he could get away with it. He still thinks he can get away with it. Is this the type of SOCIOPATHIC NARCISSIST you want representing you?

You know Jim Gerlach is a CAREER POLITITIAN who really doesn’t have a congressional record to run on. Jim never served in the military, never served in the armed forces and never volunteered for inactive duty. The only thing Gerlach has tried to do related to military service is to swiftboat Trevdei’s servise away from him. AS far as I’m concerned this is a great issue for Manan to show his off his military record and show that Jim doesn’t have one. Manan has, and the veterans and voters will see through Jim quickly on this issue because charater counts.

Manan served in the armed forces and was the in with the first wave of soldiers in the Iraq war. Jim served in law firm to get prepared for a life of being in public office. The problem is Gerlach doesn’t have a record to run on because he’s really not done anything note worthy for all those years in office, basically nothing, except for the puppy mill thing.

I wonder what Jim is going to do after he’s defeated in November?

Early Disclaimer, I am from PA but not from District 6, I haven’t lived in PA since I was 18, I have served in the Army, and I am a friend of Manan’s.
Now that is on the table let me refute the last statement from Mark Campbell who has not check his facts. Here is a quote from the article:
But in an interview, Campbell insisted he wasn’t attacking Trivedi’s military service. “He voluntarily was in Boston, he voluntarily was in California, he voluntarily was in Washington,” Campbell said.
First Manan attended a very prestigious medical school in Boston. So you are correct he VOLUNTARILY went to Boston. He should have found a medical school in the 6th district…oh wait…there is none.
Manan was sent to California by the Navy. I guess since he volunteered for the Navy this is not technically a lie by Mr Campbell. While in California the Navy sent him to a program at UCLA and there he worked in the city’s busiest ERs. Funny thing about the military, they want their Doctor’s to be versed in gunshot wounds and trauma, go figure… Manan’s next duty station was in Washington DC. Again sometimes the military has plans for people, in this case it was to help out on the staff of the Naval Surgeon General in DC. Many officers, usually the best and the brightest minds get stationed in DC. I feel this last comment is a slight to all those in uniform working in the District and surrounding metro DC area to suggest they are serving there for fun or for political reasons. Please think before you speak. Manan’s heart and mind has never left Pennsylvania. Also sometimes travelling and living in different areas brings a good perspective to the district’s and country’s problems. Heck we just spent 8 years of foreign policy planning by a President who boasted he had only been to Canada and Mexico on vacation and hated travelling. Did you see where that got us? Mark, Jim you owe Manan Trivedi an apology. This is politics at it’s worst.
For all the people posting and joining this discussion, I am speaking especially to you Devan, I am just taking issue with this last line from Mr Campbell. If you want to take issue with anything else, that is a different discussion. Mr Campbell is wrong with his facts. Unless volunteering to be a doctor as a professional choice and volunteering for military duty is what Mr Campbell has issue with.
Chris Hulton

Chris:

So you agree that your friend Trivedi lied about his resume, his job, his not having worked at Reading Hospital since November ’09? Okay. Glad we’re in agreement as to his lack of credibility.

Devan,
I knew that something in you HAD to respond even when I made explict mention of your name in order to keep you to my message. Apparently you don’t want to read the last paragragh. You were just happy you read your name Whoopie! I will again direct you to my post and it’s issue. My contention is with the sentence Mark Campbell said concerning Manan’s volunteering to be in many areas other than his district. In Gerlach’s attempt to label Manan as an outsider they made a mistake in suggesting he could have served/went to college anywhere. I take personal offense to it as a former member of the military. Do not even attempt to construe my words to bend them into agreement with your opinion.

As an elected official who we’ve been overpaying now for eight years in Washington, and in Harrisburg before that, Jim Gerlach should really be running on the issues and letting us know what he stands for. Oh wait. That’s right; as a tool of John Boehner, he stands for NOTHING. As a loyal minion in the party of NO, he hasn’t advanced a single realistic legislative proposal since the start of the current session. No wonder all he can do is attack his squeaky-clean opponent on only the most immaterial, inconsequential factoids his lame opposition research team can produce. How much is he paying for that information? His campaign is getting ripped off big-time!

@ Devon

I hope you are involved in Gerlach’s campaign because it will help him lose faster.

You have a miopic view of the world and a great distain for those who actually served in the military. Why do you need to trash those who served our country? I think its sickening for you to do this to people who have served our country and gave a personal sacrifice to do so. What is wrong with you?

Maybe you need some help, or time off. I strongly consider getting something to help you.

Every time Mr. Campbell opens his mouth, Trivedi gains votes. Keep flapping your lips, Mr. Campbell, so we can send Mr. Gerlach into early retirement.